Combination support and lid lifter device



Aug. 15, 1967 R. E. EPPLE COMBINATION SUPPORT AND LID LIFTER DEVICE Filed July 6, 1965 INVENTOR ROBERT E. EPPLE' FIG. 6

BY 127M, Wail/)2, 77M

77% maE Zmuuq ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,335,991 COMBINATION SUPPORT AND LID LIFTER DEVICE Robert E. Epple, Rumson, N.J., assignor to A. S. Epple, Inc., Rumson, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 6, 1965, Ser. No. 469,804 4 Claims. (Cl. 248--211) This invention relates to a special device which may serve as a support or a lid lifter for a paint can or the like and is particularly concerned with a relatively simple devilce of this nature formed from a single length of metal stoc It is usual to open the lid of the conventional paint can by inserting a screw driver or like tool blade into the annular recess around the periphery of the lid and pry upwardly. Very often tools of this nature are not available when the can is to be opened. Also such prying may deform the edge of the screw driver blade or coat it objectionably with'paint.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple special inexpensive tool which can be sold with the usual paint can, which can be used to pry open the lid and also used to hang the can on a ladder or the like while painting, and may be detached from the can for reuse if desired.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a novel combination support and lid lifter device for containers such as conventional paint cans.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which is formed at opposite ends with a hook and a prying blade respectively, and is intermediately formed with an annular section adapted for frictional mounting on a container boss.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination support and lid lifter formed from a single length of tough stiff metal wherein one end is bent to form a supporting hook, the opposite end is flattened to form a pry blade and an intermediate section is coiled for mounting on an associated container.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a generally perspective view of a combined lid lifter and support hook device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation showing the device as mounted on a conventional paint can;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation showing the device in lid lifting position;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation showing the device in supporting position; and

FIGURE 7 is an end view in elevation showing a mounting detail.

The device 11 of the invention is integrally formed from a length of steel wire or rod, for example about /s" in diameter, which may be formed into a desired shape that it stifily retains.

Essentially the device comprises a hook 12 at one end, a blade 13 at the other end and an intermediate coiled section 14 which has a dual function as will appear.

The hook 12 is formed by bending that end of a straight piece of wire stock around a suitable anvil or the like, and while the hook is shown rounded it could comprise angular regions.

Blade 13 is preferably formed by simply flattening the end of the Wire stock so that it looks like a screw driver. The intermediate coiled section 14 is formed preferably by bending the wire in the region intermediate the hook and the blade for slightly more than a complete revolution around a suitable cylindrical rod anvil of the proper diameter.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the blade arm 15 and the hook arm 16 extend tangentially with respect to the circular mounting socket defined by coiled section 14. Arms 15 and 16 define an included angle of slightly less than The inner surface of the socket lies in a cylindrical envelope surface indicated at 17 in FIGURE .2. The purpose of this socket is to enable the device to be slipped endwise onto the usual sheet metal boss 18 that is formed on the paint can 19 to pivotally receive the ends 21 of the usual semi-circular wire handle 22.

The diameter of surface 17 is such that a tight friction fit is provided, whereby the device 11 is retained inmovably on the can as during shipping and when not in use for opening the lid or supporting the can on the rung 23, a ladder 24 of the like.

It will be observed (FIGURE 6) that arms 15 and 16 at the ends of the coil of socket section 14 lie in parallel spaced relation, being purposely separated at least the diameter of the wire of pail handle 22 as indicated at d. This enables the device 11 to be slipped onto a conventional paint can handle, so that as shown in FIGURE 6, for example, the handle 22 passes through the coil section 14 and is retained in assembly upon the can even if rough handling should shake it loose.

The device may be sold as part of the paint can assembly, being frictionally mounted on the boss 18 as shown in FIGURE 3.

When it is desired to use the paint, the operator slips device 11 off the boss 18 and slides it along to about the middle of the freely turnable handle 22 which is pivoted up to the position of FIGURE 5 where blade 13 may be inserted into the usual annular recess space that exists around the top of paint cans. In this position the underside of arm 15 rests on the upper outer edge 25 of the paint can as a fulcrum and blade 13 extends under the rim of the usual lid 26, so that the device may be rocked clockwise in FIGURE 5 to pry lid 26 up and open the top of can 19.

Once the can is open the device 11 can be slid back along the handle to frictionally mount it out of the way on boss 18 or, if the painting is done by a man on a ladder, the hook 12 is slipped over the ladder rung 23 and the device 11 supports the can 19.

The dimensions of device 11 including the diameter of surface 17 are such that the device is readily usable for the prying action of FIGURE 5, since paint cans of standard dimensions.

When the paint can 19 is empty, the device 11 may be slipped off the handle 22 and similarly mounted on a fresh can.

The tool of invention may be provided with containers 'for other materials than paint, such as putty, roofing compounds, wood preservatives and the like having similar lid structure. The tool may be furnished as part of the assembly, even being held stationary by a light solder like the usual key for sardine cans, or it may be sold separately for general use. Once installed on a can, the tool is safe against loss and it may be used repeatedly without being separated from the can handle. If desired, the larger book can be laterally flattened and provided with advertising inscriptions.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing descrip tion, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combination support and lid lifting device for a paint or like container comprising a single length of relatively stiff metal wire formed at one end With a hook, at the other end with a prying blade and intermediate its ends with a coiled cylindrical socket section, a long straight arm section of said wire extending substantially tangentially from said socket to said hook, and a relatively short arm section of said Wire extending in the opposite direction from said long arm substantially tangentially to said socket to said blade, said blade being a flattened terminal on said short arm, and said straight arms being so angularly related as to define between them an angle of less than 180 that is open in the direction of the center of said socket.

2. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said coiled socket section has an internal diameter of such size as to frictionally fit upon the usual handle mounting boss of a conventional paint can.

3. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said coiled socket section comprises side by side portions spaced apart a distance at least equal to the diameter of a container handle cross-section.

4. The device defined to claim 2, wherein said device is adapted to be mounted on said container with a pivoted handle for the container passing through said coiled socket section, and said arms of said device being so relatively dimensioned that the blade may be applied to pry up the can lid While the device remains on the handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,354,811 10/1920 Faistenhammer 248-215 1,364,221 1/1921 Tower 21546 1,963,007 6/1934 Week 813.46 2,275,071 3/ 1942 Austin 2482l7 2,579,930 12/1951 King 71 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,049,641 8/ 1953 France.

ROY D. F RAZIER, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION SUPPORT AND LID LIFTING DEVICE FOR A PAINT OR LIKE CONTAINER COMPRISING A SINGLE LENGTH OF RELATIVELY STIFF METAL WIRE FORMED AT ONE END WITH A HOOK, AT THE OTHER END WITH A PRYING BLADE AND INTERMEDIATE ITS END WITH A COILED CYLINDRICAL SOCKET SECTION, A LONG STRAIGHT ARM SECTION OF SAID WIRE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENTIALLY FROM SAID SOCKET TO SAID HOOK, AND A RELATIVELY SHORT ARM SECTION OF SAID WIRE EXTENDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM SAID LONG ARM SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENTIALLY TO SAID SOCKET TO SAID BLADE, SAID BLADE BEING A FLATTENED TERMINAL ON SAID SHORT ARM, AND SAID STRAIGHT ARMS BEING SO ANGULARLY RELATED AS TO DEFINE BETWEEN THEM AN ANGLE OF LESS THAN 180* THAT IS OPEN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CENTER OF SAID SOCKET. 